Kinetics of the response of milk and serum beta-carotene to daily beta-carotene supplementation in healthy, lactating women.
Changes in concentrations of milk and serum carotenoids, retinol, and alpha-tocopherol of five healthy, well-nourished, lactating women were measured over a 28-d supplementation trial with 30 mg beta-carotene and for 4 wk thereafter. Beta-carotene supplementation increased mean beta-carotene concentrations in milk and serum 6.4- and 7.4-fold, respectively. Concentrations of other major carotenoids, retinol, and alpha-tocopherol did not change substantially in either milk or serum. Uptake of beta-carotene into both serum and milk followed apparent first-order kinetics, occurring more rapidly into serum (t(1/2) = 5.5 d) than into milk (t(1/2) = 9 d). After supplementation, milk and serum beta-carotene concentrations decayed slowly, reaching approximately twofold initial concentrations by 4 wk. Kinetics of uptake and decay in milk beta-carotene concentrations paralleled those in serum. The data show that short-term supplementation of healthy, lactating mothers with purified beta-carotene at approximately fivefold the average daily dietary intake substantially increased milk and serum beta-carotene concentrations while not interfering with concentrations of other carotenoids, retinol, or alpha-tocopherol in milk or serum. Thus, an increased intake of beta-carotene by healthy, lactating women increases the supply of milk beta-carotene available to their breast-feeding infants.
Canfield
L M
LM
Department of Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721, USA. ZMCANFIE@U.ARIZONA.edu
Giuliano
A R
AR
Neilson
E M
EM
Blashil
B M
BM
Graver
E J
EJ
Yap
H H
HH
D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000378:metabolism*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007774:Lactation / Q000378:metabolism*; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000378:metabolism*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
D019207:beta Carotene; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D002338:Carotenoids